By Rich
Two early goals on Friday from Spanish midfielder Dani Olmo propelled RB Leipzig to a 2:0 victory over hosts TSG 1899 Hoffenheim. Olmo’s first goal came in the 9th minute off a pass from Nordi Mukiele, and Olmo quickly followed 2 minutes later off a header by Marcel Sabitzer. The 2 goals were Olmo’s first double in the Bundesliga, and the win keeps Leipzig in contention for a top-4 finish in the waning weeks of the current season. On Saturday, Bayern München will host Borussia Mönchengladbach, and could obtain its 8th consecutive Bundesliga title. Bayern will be playing without Robert Lewandowski and Thomas Müller, who are both suspended for picking up too many yellow cards. Gladbach will also be without their top scorer, Alassane Plea, who was sent off in last Friday’s 0:1 loss to Freiburg. Nevertheless, Gladbach have won 3 of their last 5 meetings with Bayern, including a 2:1 win in the reverse fixture earlier in the season. Another important competition occurs on Saturday at the other end of the table, when SV Werder Bremen travel to SC Paderborn. The match could confirm Paderborn’s automatic relegation, should Paderborn lose to Bremen and if Fortuna Düsseldorf upset Borussia Dortmund in their match. Bremen are only 5 points ahead of Paderborn in the table and will remain in the other automatic relegation spot unless they better Fortuna’s result by at least 6 goals. Paderborn won the reverse fixture this season with a single late goal. Regardless of Saturday’s outcomes, Dortmund will remain in 2nd place in the league, and both Marco Reus and Erling Haaland returned to training this week following injuries, although only Haaland is expected to play this weekend. Dortmund’s only chance for a league title requires a Bayern loss on Saturday, as Bayern are 7 points clear, with only 12 points still in play this season. The remaining matches on Saturday feature clubs that are grouped in the middle of the table and are in each case within 1-2 matches of each other, pointwise. Of particular significance is the Union Berlin-Köln competition: Union Berlin are just 4 points ahead of the relegation playoff spot and just 7 points ahead of an automatic relegation spot, while Köln have not won in their last 7 games. On Sunday, Mainz and Augsburg will compete to remain clear of the relegation zone, and red-hot Bayer Leverkusen will anticipate the return of striker Kai Havertz when they travel to take on Schalke. Leverkusen’s win on Tuesday over Saarbrücken sent them to the DFB Pokal final against Bayern, a match that will take place on July 4. Schalke remain in 10th place despite going 12 games without a win.
Two early goals on Friday from Spanish midfielder Dani Olmo propelled RB Leipzig to a 2:0 victory over hosts TSG 1899 Hoffenheim. Olmo’s first goal came in the 9th minute off a pass from Nordi Mukiele, and Olmo quickly followed 2 minutes later off a header by Marcel Sabitzer. The 2 goals were Olmo’s first double in the Bundesliga, and the win keeps Leipzig in contention for a top-4 finish in the waning weeks of the current season. On Saturday, Bayern München will host Borussia Mönchengladbach, and could obtain its 8th consecutive Bundesliga title. Bayern will be playing without Robert Lewandowski and Thomas Müller, who are both suspended for picking up too many yellow cards. Gladbach will also be without their top scorer, Alassane Plea, who was sent off in last Friday’s 0:1 loss to Freiburg. Nevertheless, Gladbach have won 3 of their last 5 meetings with Bayern, including a 2:1 win in the reverse fixture earlier in the season. Another important competition occurs on Saturday at the other end of the table, when SV Werder Bremen travel to SC Paderborn. The match could confirm Paderborn’s automatic relegation, should Paderborn lose to Bremen and if Fortuna Düsseldorf upset Borussia Dortmund in their match. Bremen are only 5 points ahead of Paderborn in the table and will remain in the other automatic relegation spot unless they better Fortuna’s result by at least 6 goals. Paderborn won the reverse fixture this season with a single late goal. Regardless of Saturday’s outcomes, Dortmund will remain in 2nd place in the league, and both Marco Reus and Erling Haaland returned to training this week following injuries, although only Haaland is expected to play this weekend. Dortmund’s only chance for a league title requires a Bayern loss on Saturday, as Bayern are 7 points clear, with only 12 points still in play this season. The remaining matches on Saturday feature clubs that are grouped in the middle of the table and are in each case within 1-2 matches of each other, pointwise. Of particular significance is the Union Berlin-Köln competition: Union Berlin are just 4 points ahead of the relegation playoff spot and just 7 points ahead of an automatic relegation spot, while Köln have not won in their last 7 games. On Sunday, Mainz and Augsburg will compete to remain clear of the relegation zone, and red-hot Bayer Leverkusen will anticipate the return of striker Kai Havertz when they travel to take on Schalke. Leverkusen’s win on Tuesday over Saarbrücken sent them to the DFB Pokal final against Bayern, a match that will take place on July 4. Schalke remain in 10th place despite going 12 games without a win.
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